"Ungabe *Nclock* *Nclock*!"

Annabelle knows the dawg's name. If you say, "Where's Buckley?", she will swivel her head on cue and look directly at him. She also knows Where's "Mommy?", "Daddy?" and "the Christmas Tree?" She cannot, however, say any of these words herself.

The dawg is still something of a mystery to her but every now and then, when she wants his attention, she will reach out her hand and make a high-pitched squeal.

The dawg, loves Annabelle. He is allowed to eat anything she drops, but not to touch anything on her tray. He is allowed to lick her within reason as one full swipe of his tongue could cover her chin to forehead and ear to ear. As a consequence, we are constantly telling him to "leave it" when it comes to food on her tray but allowing him to eat the same food off the floor. We say "how nice" when he gently touches the tip of his tongue to her hands or forehead but "Whoa, whoa, leave it!" when he goes into full tongue-bath mode. All of this makes the baby still something of a mystery to the dawg.

This morning, Annabelle REALLY wanted Buckley's attention and she was reaching and squealing, but the dawg was locked in "leave it" mode as Annie had just finished a snack.

So there is Annie squealing and reaching, me telling her to "Say Buckley", which of course she is no where near saying - all the while I am trying to get the dawg to "Give kisses" to her outstretched hand while he nervously paces the room in circles not understanding anything that is happening . . .

*Squeal!* *Squeal!*

"Buckley, give kisses!"

"Annie, say 'Buckley'!"

*Pace* *Pace* *Pace*

I felt like a missionary trying to converse to two different tribes who had never seen a white man before . . .

We never did bridge the divide this morning - and now it's time to get ready for church . . .

It was one of those moments when you ask yourself, "Is this insanity? or just fatherhood?"